Sunlight on Political Ads on TV

Aug. 27, 2013, 3:48 p.m.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent federal agency that (among many responsibilities) requires broadcasters to publicly release their political file, the collection of details on political ads. Unfortunately for a cast majority of broadcasters, the definition of ‘public’ means paper forms sitting in file cabinets spread across the country at the offices of the each station.

The political files include information on which groups are buying political ads, which candidates the ads support and when and where the ads aired. The Sunlight Foundation is urging the FCC to join the 21st century and require that all stations post this information online.

Projects

A free mobile and web app that identifies information about who is buying political ads using audio fingerprint technology. The app provides valuable contextual information about the candidate, super PAC and issues ads airing on TV and radio.